FAO backs China's move to vaccinate bird flock
The Star, 24 Nov 2005

ROME (Reuters) - The United Nations' food and farming body on Wednesday applauded China's decision to vaccinate some 14 billion poultry birds across the world's most populous nation, calling it a tough but achievable task. 

On the day when China announced its third human case of the disease -- a 35-year-old woman farmer who subsequently died -- the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said it welcomed Beijing's huge undertaking. 

"The government has chosen to launch a massive vaccination campaign. We are supporting them, but we require a number of guarantees concerning these operations," FAO Chief Veterinary Officer      Joseph      Domenech     told

delegates at the Rome-based body. 

Domenech later told Reuters that the FAO wanted assurances about the quality of the vaccines -- all of which will be made in China -- and will monitor the vaccination programme. 

"We support the decision. We know that this country is able to implement it because they have a very strong political will and when they decide, they decide," he said. "It will be very difficult but they can do it." 

China is one of five Asian countries most affected by the bird flu outbreaks which began to be detected at the end of 2003. It has already culled 21 million birds and on Monday the government said the police would crack down on anyone failing to report cases. 

The FAO estimates the economic impact of the Asian bird flu outbreak so far at some $10 billion, including losses in farming, trade and tourism. 

The FAO and other global bodies are concerned the disease will spread around the world and that it could mutate into a form that could be passes from human to human. 

At present humans are thought to contract the disease only through direct contact with infected birds of their faeces.